The developement of advertising

I’ve just read the article „The development of advertising“ and it talks about the history of advertising.

Advertising started in the nineteenth century and it was used mainly to promote novelties and fringe products. But when the factory production got into swing brand-naming of products became necessary.

The economic depression marked a turning point between the old method of industrial organisation and the new. Then the depression brought a crisis of over-production and under-consumption, so the manufactured goods piled up unsold and prices and profits fell.

Then the firms realised they would be in a better position if they combined with other businesses and widened their range of goods. They would have to take steps to ensure that if the goods were produced there would be a market for them.

After the depression the firms relied on mass advertising to promote their new range of products.

A good change is the soap trade. From about 1850 the market had been flooded with many bars of soap which were produced by hundreds of small manufactures. Lord Leverhulme decided to „brand“ his soap by selling it.

He realised that advertisements should contain „logical and considered“ arguments as well as eye-catching and witty slogans.

Many advertisers followed his lead.

My favourite advertising spot is „Zalando“.

A man is standing in a room full of shoes. He says that nobody should tell his sister or his girlfriend of the online shop. He also mentions that delivering and sending back is free of charge. Suddenly the doorbell rings. His wife opens & starts shouting. Then her husband also starts shouting because the postman again brings some packages of shoes. At last the postman starts shouting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHk42otbSNQ

PRESS REVIEW

I read an article the other day on the online version of “Austriantimes” and it talks about the usage of Austrian credit cards abroad.

Basically what it says is that credit cards are the Austrians’ most favourite payment methods abroad.

There is also the information that more than 40 per cent of 1.15 million credit cards were used abroad last year. Austrians use their credit cards an average 14 times abroad to spend around 1400 Euros every year.

The company PayLife had a market share of 46 per cent and they expect a increase by 15 to 20 per cent this year because of the usage of credit cards.

In my opinion it’s a very good way to pay with a credit card because then you don’t have to take a lot of money with you.

see original link:

http://austriantimes.at/news/Business/2010-06-08/24068/Austrian_credit_card_usage_abroad_soars

Let's go green!


A few days ago I saw a presentation about pollution, environnement and how to protect the nature.


I think that protecting the environnement is a very interesting theme because there is so much pollution everywhere. There are still a lot of people who don't care about this and waste a lot of things like plastic and so on. In my opinion we should protect our planet to avoid problems with nature.

The presentation was really well done, it gave me a lot of information about different pollutions and how to protect the earth.

In the presentation there were also mentioned the websides of WWF and Greenpeace. On the websides you get a lot of information about the latest news like the problems of our nature. There is also some informations about the organisations and what they do to protect the nature.

What we can do to avoid pollution is instead of using our car we could go by bike or use public transport if it's possible.

LONLEY PLANET


In the presentation of KMME we heard about travelling. The presentation was really well done, there was a lot of information and everything was good explained. They also showed us the website “lonleyplanet” and explained it. At the end of the presentation we watched a podcast which I liked very much.

I took a look at home at the website and I think it’s very easy and comfortable to book your journey. What impressed me most was that there are so many pictures so that you can imagine everything better. Another good thing is that you get any information you need before going on holiday.

Press Review

I read an article the other day on the online version of „austriantimes.at“ and it talks about the overnight stays of vienna.

Basically what it says is that Vienna had its second best year for overnight stays in 2009. It is also mentioned that there were 9.8 million overnight stays last year, which was 3.8 per cent down the year 2008.
The city tourism director Norbert Kettner said that the turnover of the city hotel industry had fallen and last year the hoteliers lowerd their prices because of recession.
The Vienna tourism office will spend 14 million Euros in 24 markets this year and will also make a 1.3-million Euro agreement with Austrian Airlines.

I think it is good that the overnight stays in Austria rise because in Vienna there a lot of interesting sights.

Vocabulary:
turnover (Umsatz) = This is everything a company saled.

hotelier (Hotelbesitzer) = The person who owns a hotel.

recession (Rückgang) = If a company sales less than last year, it’s a recession.

you can see the full article here:

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/Business/2010-01-21/19903/Record_year_for_Vienna_stays

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Today I’d like to give you some information how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.

Christmas in America
Early European settlers brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks.
In Hawaii this practice is still in use as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.
In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.
In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.


Christmas in Italy
The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing.
In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs.
A strict feast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panettone features as well as chocolate.


Christmas in France
On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.
In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells.
Once dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in.
In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.